Centaur2007

I have a 12-26 9 spd SRAM cassette that has the following cogs:

12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-26

I'd like to lose the 12 and gain a 16. Is it possible to source a 16 T cog and end up with:

13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-26 ?

Thanks in advance

Retro Grouch 

Probably not. The first position cogs are usually a little different than the rest. QBP doesn't have individual Sram cogs listed but they do list Shimano cogs. You might be able to get a 13 tooth first position Shimano cog and a 16 tooth cog and make them do what you want. Wholesale cost for those two parts is around $21.00 so that's pretty close to the cost for a whole Sram cassette.

Centaur2007

I'd buy the cogset in a flash if SRAM or Shimano offered it. I have a 16T cog so do you think if I found a 13T first position cog it'd work ???

Thanks

Retro Grouch 

Why not chance it? That's what I'd do.

At worst it won't work. If that happens you can still use the cassette the way that it came and you'll be out the cost of the 13t cog. With 9 options on the back exact gear ratios aren't nearly as critical as they were back in the 5-speed freewheel days. Chalk up the cost of the cog as tuition to the school of bicycle mechanics. Ultimately you won't really have lost anything because you'll be smarter.

Speaking of getting smarter, will you promise to let the rest of us know how it works out?

HillRider

Shimano offers a 9-speed cassettes at both the 105 and Ultegra level in 13x25 configuration which contains the 16T cog. If you will settle for a 25T instead of a 26T, there is your ready-made answer.

Centaur2007

Thanks all, I'll report back.
A

erader

a 13-tooth shimano first cog may not work in a SRAM cassette. i tried to fit a 13-tooth shimano cog between a 12 and 14 and the tooth profile is different and the chain would not settle. i suspect you'd have the same problem, probably with the 16 too.

i know some bigger shimano cogs will work with SRAM because the teeth are flat instead of twisted -- e.g., 30-tooth.

the shimano HG-50 is a good cassette to modify with shimano cogs because it's inexpensive and all the cogs are loose (no carrier) once you remove the pins.

i've converted a 9-speed HG-50, 11-32 cassette into an 11-28 by dropping the 32 and adding a 13. this gives me a tighter ratio and a better chainline on my spinning gears.

ed rader

erader

are these loose cogs or is there a carrier involved?

ed rader

Centaur2007

No carrier on that part of the cog set. The 16t I have is SRAM. The only Shimano cog would be the 13t. The guy two posts above said it wouldn't work because the chain wouldn't settle. I'm going to try and find one cheap that I won't be out much.